By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Anna Baumgarten
Starring: Ariela Barer | Chelsea Alden | Dylan Arnold | Libe Barer | Travis Tope
Year: 2025
Running time: 95
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10826774
Michael says: “Awkward title ties together the awkward way we mangle the English language, often when we’r trying to say something important is e3ffectively used in this drama about Jane, a young woman who aborts a successful academic career just before graduating after a significant event that has traumatized her. Glimpses of Jane reveal something went terribly wrong just before graduation, then we find her returning to her lovely lakeside home in Michigan to decompress for the summer. Her parents are alternately disappointed and concerned, while her Irish twin older sister Lacey provides comfort.
“Hanging out with old high school friends or acquaintances, avoiding her recent past, and reaching out to a beleaguered single mom next door keep Jane pretty busy, but we all know at some point she is going to have to deal with whatever happened in her past. While we pretty much have it figured out, when the details finally emerge, it’s not as clear out as we were expecting.
“First-time feature writer/director Anna Baumgartner, does not very into ground-breaking territory here, but her characters are smart, realistic, and likable. The film utilized some effective memory/dream sequences to give us glimpses of past events. The screenplay is pretty strong, and while there are certain conventions that are inherent in the story, they don’t detract from the film. The acting is uniformly strong as well. Real-life sisters Live and Ariela Baber have an easy connection as Jane and Lacey, and when they are hanging out with friends, there is a realism that rises above the usual movie fare. Also notable is Chelsea Alden, as Amber, the young single mom next door. A scene between Jane and Amber told in a unique way started the water works for me. 4 cats
“Catch is streaming on Hoopla, or for rent on Amazon Prime and AppleTV+.”